TOYOTA GAZOO Racing resumes its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) title quest with the first European round of the 2025 season, the Six Hours of Imola, on Sunday 20 April.
The reigning manufacturers’ World Champions opened the season by maximising the opportunities available in a challenging Qatar 1812km event to sit third in the standings. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries finished sixth in their #7 GR010 HYBRID, while Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa were fifth in the #8 sister car.
“Even if the result in Qatar was not what we normally aim for, the execution from the whole team to score strong points despite the challenging circumstances shows what we are capable of,” commented Hartley. “If we can repeat that performance in Imola we will be there or thereabouts at the chequered flag, scoring more big points to help us challenge for both world titles. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Now the eight-race season moves to Italy for round two at a venue with fond memories for the team. Its first victory last year came in a weather-affected race in Imola, when the #7 GR010 HYBRID conquered the conditions to earn a win which kicked started the team’s challenge for both world titles.
As the first of three European races, culminating in the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, Imola also represents an important step in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s efforts to win for the sixth time at La Sarthe.
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola has become one of motorsport’s most recognisable circuits since its opening in 1953. It has hosted World Championship endurance racing six times, including its return to the WEC calendar last year after a 40-year absence, to replace Monza.
A large and passionate crowd is once again expected to watch 18 Hypercars from eight manufacturers – Alpine, newcomers Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Peugeot and Porsche – do battle alongside 18 LMGT3 cars over the Easter weekend.
On-track preparations begin on Friday 18 April with two 90-minute free practice sessions, before the starting grid is decided in qualifying and Hyperpole on Saturday, from at 3.10pm CEST. The Six Hours of Imola begins at 1pm on Sunday 20 April.
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